I slept well and woke about 6:00am, and got up and went on the internet. Woke Marg about 7:00am and we started packing up.

We had 190kms today, so we left camp at 8;00am and drove 70km to a Rest Stop(8:59am), then drove the final 120kms non stop to Mount Isa Caravan Park. As usual, there is bugger all traffic.
Paid the $175 for 5 nights ($35 per night for a powered site), it is under new management, there are plenty of permanents and the park looks a little old, but the amenities are clean and the showers had good water pressure. As we are here for 5 nights, the setup consisted of power, water, sullage, winding the annex its full width, Marg's room and finally erected the Sat Dish. All this in 35° heat. I was absolutely rooted by the time I finished. Went and had a shower and later in the day, we visited their pool, which is excellent. We have been running the Air Cond all day and night for the past 3 days.

Dinner was a scratch meal, Marg had a pie , while I had Mr McCain's pizza slices. They were YUMMA.

Over the next few days we plan to stay at:

• Mon 2nd May - Mount Isa - 5 nights
• Sat 7th May - Boulia - 1 night
• Sun 8th May - Bedourie - Leave Fiver there for 5 nights
• Mon 9th May - Birdsville - 2 nights - drive there without fiver.
• Wed 11th May - Bedourie - last 2 nights
• Fri 13th May - Boulia - 2 nights
• Sat 15th May - Winton - 1 night

Tomorrow, we do some R&R and explore Mt Isa.

The Air Con was on all night. I slept well and woke about 6:15am, and got up and went on the internet. As we are here for R&R, there was no need to wake Marg, she got up about 7:30am. We had brekky, did a few loads of washing then headed off to downtown Mt Isa.

We left camp and checked out the Public Dump Point, it passed, we will use it on Saturday. We then headed to the Mt Isa Medical Centre to see if they do "Flu shots", they did and we booked their earliest appointment at 2pm today, cost was $45 each, I thought that was dear. We walked over the road to a Pharmacy to get Marg's script filled, they also did "FLU Shots" on the spot, so we booked in. The cost was $35 each. We waited for the script, had our "flu shots" and we had to wait about 15minutes after having the shots to see if there were any side effects. We didn't experience any. From there, we walked next door to the Medical Center, into Woollies and did a large shop.
Next port of call was the Post Office, Marg had crocheted a baby's outfit for a friend, now this PO was only a mail box pick up only area. Luckily, I had programmed another PO into TOM, it appeared to be at the Mt Isa Village shopping center, it wasn't but it was across the road, so after spending $10 the outfit is winging its way to the Gold Coast. We walked back into the Village to Donut King and shock,horror, had some cinnamon donuts and coffee. Marg was rapt as Amy the waitress asked her to show proof that she was a SENIOR, usually they look at her and think that she is an 'old fart', she must be a SENIOR (I usually can get away with those sort of comments as Marg doesn't read every post that I write here, Hopefully, she wont read this one, otherwise, I will be in DEEP SHIT). After coffee, we called into Outback at Isa tourist Center, I ducked in and asked about shared paths for cycling around Isa. Michelle told me that there is a shared along the Leichardt River which is similar to the Todd river. Dry as. BUT the shared path wasn't suitable for me. To get to it, I would have to cycle along too many roads to get there, SO I will not be cycling in Mt Isa and will probably go 'stir crazy'.
During the arvo, it actually RAINED.

Due to the HOT weather and the success of last week's cold meat and salads, guess what is for dinner for the next few days. You guessed it, cold meat and salads. And they were YUMMA.

After dinner we drove over to the Mt Isa Lapidary Club to catchup with 'Billy the Gemhunter'. It was great to chat with Billy and checkout his club.

Over the next few days we plan to stay at:

• Tue 3rd May - Mount Isa - 4 nights
• Sat 7th May - Boulia - 1 night
• Sun 8th May - Bedourie - Leave Fiver there for 5 nights
• Mon 9th May - Birdsville - 2 nights - drive there without fiver.
• Wed 11th May - Bedourie - last 2 nights
• Fri 13th May - Boulia - 2 nights
• Sat 15th May - Winton - 1 night

Tomorrow is just buggering about at camp with a coffee at Donut King.

It was borderline last night whether we needed the Air Con on or not, So we didn't. Marg used her fan instead. We both slept fair, between no sheet and sheet. I woke just before 6am and laid in bed listening to the radio through my earphones. I got up about 6:30am and went on the internet, Marg woke about 7:30am.
We had brekky and buggered about at camp, before heading to Bunnings for some 1x1/4" hex head bolts with wingnuts for the new dish. It has 1/2" long bolts with nuts and they are an absolute bugger to screw on, especially when you have the 'shakes' like I do. This should make it SO much easier. We stopped in at the Info Centre again, this time Marg got out and we went in. There isn't any 'new stuff' to see that interests us, as this is our 4th stay in Isa, SO we are going out in the morning, sightseeing etc and back at camp early arvo to try and beat the heat. We visited Donut King at Mt Isa Village SC for a coffee and donuts, while eating and drinking, we had our iPads with us and read the Melbourne Herald Sun, as we subscribe to it and download it daily. After coffee, Marg remembered seeing a 'Crazy Clints', we found it but it has closed down. On the way back to camp we drove upto the top of the Lookout. The views are stunning.

After chatting with our fossicking friend last night, who said that there are many jobs lost in the Isa. We believe that as it is very quiet traffic wise, there are shops closed. It is probably us, but there appears to be a 'sense' that the Isa is slowing down. Our Caravan Park has more than 50% permanents but so far, there isn't any sign of life in most of the permanent sites.

During the arvo, I managed a nanna nap, then we went for a swim. The swimming pool is beautiful.

Dinner was cold meat and salads. And they were YUMMA.

Over the next few days we plan to stay at:

• Wed 4th May - Mount Isa - 3 nights
• Sat 7th May - Boulia - 1 night
• Sun 8th May - Bedourie - Leave Fiver there for 5 nights
• Mon 9th May - Birdsville - 2 nights - drive there without fiver.
• Wed 11th May - Bedourie - last 2 nights
• Fri 13th May - Boulia - 2 nights
• Sat 15th May - Winton - 1 night

Tomorrow is just buggering about at camp with a coffee at Donut King and a drive to Lake Moondarra.

We started off with the Air Con on and managed to turn it off later in the night. Again, Marg used her fan. We both slept well, most of the night, it was just with a sheet on BUT about 5:30am, I actually pulled on my blanket. I woke just after 7;15am, as I heard Marg getting up, SO I got up as well. We buggered about on the Internet, had brekky and at 9:34am, we headed off to Lake Moondarra about 22kms away.
We arrived at 10:05am, and walked out along the Dam wall and took photos. On the way home, we noticed that there was a road that hugs the shore of the Lake, so we drove along that, until we came to a stop with a locked gate blocking us and forcing us to back up approx 50meters before we could do a U turn retrace our original route back to the bitumen.
We drove back to the Mt Isa Village Sc and visited K Mart before having coffee and donuts at Donut King and reading the paper on our iPads. Arriving back at camp at 12:23pm. We made beautiful tomato rolls for lunch and buggered about in the AIR CONDITIONED fiver as the temperature is hovering around 32°. Marg had a nanna nap, while I was on the internet.

Later in the arvo, after it cooled down a little, we sat outside and read.

Dinner was cold meat and salads. And they were YUMMA.

Over the next few days we plan to stay at:

• Mon 2nd May - Mount Isa - 5 nights
• Sat 7th May - Boulia - 1 night
• Sun 8th May - Bedourie - Leave Fiver there for 5 nights
• Mon 9th May - Birdsville - 2 nights - drive there without fiver.
• Wed 11th May - Bedourie - last 2 nights
• Fri 13th May - Boulia - 2 nights
• Sat 15th May - Winton - 1 night

Tomorrow is just buggering about at camp with a coffee at Donut King and visiting The Buffs club.

We had the Air Con on all night. We both slept well, most of the night, it was just with a sheet on BUT about 5:30am, I actually pulled on my blanket. I woke again just after 7;15am, as I heard Marg getting up, SO I got up as well. We buggered about on the Internet, had brekky.
Yesterday, I was trying to activate one of my Sim Cards, but the Telstra website crashed at the same page. Between yesterday and this morning, I tried about 10 times. SO I drove to the Telstra shop in Mount Isa about 30 minutes after it opened and stood in a queue. Eventually, a guy served me and activated 2 of my sim cards, SO now I have 2 x 3Gb expiring on the 6th of June. By then we will be at Southport and using our 25Gb per month Vodafone modem. I also have another 3 sim cards to activate. I bought them last year, when Coles had some deal on $30 Telstra Starters kit for $1 plus shopping. I ended up with 6 sim cards. Our first one finished at Camooweal, but fear not, if there is Telstra internet connection available, we are OK. We do like our internet. BUT have lived without it. So I arrived back at camp, a happy chappy and then Marg and I drove down to Donut King for our morning coffee, donuts and read the papers on our iPads. After coffee, we did a shop in Coles next door and while being served, I 'held court' with the checkout chicks and the lady waiting behind and when I finished the 3 of them wished us, a safe trip. It was very nice experience.

Back at camp for the arvo, I had planned to start packing up, BUT it is 34° plus and I thought that I will get up about 6am tomorrow, when it is cool and pack up. I rang Maggie at Bedourie Info Center to say that we are coming in on Sunday and what is the procedure. She said that she will be open between 8am and 5pm and closed for lunch 1pm-2pm. So no drama at all. I didn't expect the Info centre to be open. We have to pay for the CP at the Info Center.

Marg managed to beat the heat and had a nanna nap in the fiver with the AIR CON on, while I updated the website inside the cool fiver. We went to The Buffs Club about 4;30pm, so Marg can have her pokies fix, I took my iPad and read my book. We should be having dinner with Billy from the Lapidary Club about 6pm. We joined the Buffs Club for $2 for 12months membership, Marg went off to the pokies (she lost) and I sat in a lounge chair and read my book(Jack Reacher). Billy arrived on time and we had dinner and chatted until 7:30pm. It was great to chat and catch up with Billy.

Dinner, Marg had lamb cutlets with mash and vegies, while I had The Buffs parmy with chips and salad. Both meals were extremely YUMMA.

Over the next few days we plan to stay at:

• Mon 2nd May - Mount Isa - 5 nights
• Sat 7th May - Boulia - 1 night
• Sun 8th May - Bedourie - Leave Fiver there for 5 nights
• Mon 9th May - Birdsville - 2 nights - drive there without fiver.
• Wed 11th May - Bedourie - last 2 nights
• Fri 13th May - Boulia - 2 nights
• Sat 15th May - Winton - 1 night

Tomorrow, we drive 300kms to Boulia which starts to complete one of my bucket list items - Visit Birdsville.
Mount Isa to Birdsville is 687kms.